Keep the New Year Happy for Humans and Dogs Alike!
Ringing in the New Year with friends and family is fun for humans of all ages; however, the noise and revelry that makes these celebrations fun for us, can make our dogs miserable. While you enjoy your upcoming New Years festivities, take a minute to read these tips on how to make this New Years Eve safe and enjoyable for everyone.
Dog’s Hate Fireworks
A shiny fireworks display can dazzle even the most jaded of us, but they often leave our canine companions cowering in fear. To minimize your dog’s reaction to fireworks, and to keep them safe at home, we suggest the following:
- During fireworks displays, keep your dog inside to minimize their exposure to the noise. Close windows and curtains to help block out the sound and provide a comfortable place for your dog to rest.
- If you need to take your dog outside during a fireworks display, keep them on a leash at all times. This will prevent them from running off and getting lost or injured if they become scared.
- In the case your dog does become lost, make sure they are wearing a collar with a current identification tag. This will make it easier for someone to return your dog to you if they are found.
- There are special noise cancelling devices available that use white noise or other sounds to help cancel out loud noises like fireworks. These devices can be placed near your dog to help them feel more at ease.
- If your dog’s fear of fireworks is severe, it may be helpful to speak with a veterinarian for additional guidance and support. They may recommend medications or other treatments to help your dog cope with the noise.
Remember, it is important to never punish your dog for being afraid of fireworks; this can make their fear worse and may cause additional problems in the future. Instead, try to be understanding and provide them with the support they need to feel safe and comfortable.
Party Food = Sick Puppy
With celebration comes FOOD! As much as we love to reward our best friends with tasty morsels on occasion, many holiday foods can upset our dogs digestive systems – and some are even toxic! Even in small amounts, certain foods can make our dogs very sick, so it is best to exercise caution and avoid feeding our pups the following foods from the holiday table:
- Most dog owners know that chocolate is bad for their dogs, but many pups still end up in the emergency room from sneaking a chocolatey treat while their owners were not looking. Keep all chocolate – especially dark chocolate – in a place where your dog cannot reach it. If your dog does ingest chocolate, watch for vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, and seizures, and reach out to your veterinarian.
- While dairy foods aren’t technically toxic for dogs, they can make them very uncomfortable. A dog’s digestive systems is not made to break down lactose like a human’s, so dairy products like milk, cheese, and whipped cream can lead to intestinal upset for our furry friends. No one wants to ring in the new year with a sick tummy, so it is best to keep the delicious dairy food to the human plates.
- Rich & fatty foods are also difficult for dogs to digest. Foods with a high fat content like poultry skin and gravy can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even damage the pancreas, so as tempting as it is to sneak puppy a scrap of turkey skin under the table, it is probably best to just give him a pet instead!
- Onions are an easy and delicious way to add flavor to our holiday dishes, but this common kitchen basic can make our dogs very sick, even in small amounts. Onions contain a substance called thiosulphate that is toxic to dogs and can lead to anemia and damage to red blood cells, so make sure to keep this spicy staple away from your precious pooch.
- With parties comes wine and cocktails, and while almost all dog owners would never consider giving their dogs alcohol, after a few drinks, people tend to get careless about where they are leaving their holiday beverages. Ethanol, the type of alcohol in the drinks humans consume, is absorbed quickly into a dog’s digestive tract and can depress their central nervous system and damage their organs. When enough alcohol is consumed, it can even lead to organ failure and death. No party is worth injuring our pups, so always exercise caution when alcoholic drinks are in the mix.
While it can be fun to spoil our dogs at special events, the treat of our love is much better for them than the treat of foods that might make them feel sick, or worse. The New Years Eve, skip the human food and shower your pup with love instead.
Armed with this information about fireworks and potential party dangers, we hope that both you and your dog will have a wonderful, safe New Years Eve and beyond. Happy New Year and all the best for 2023 from our pack to yours!
